Centrifugal lint separator for laundry machines



L. V. BUCK CENTRIFLiGAL LINT SEPARATOR FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES Filed June 28, 1955 2 Sheet's-Sheet l Zea -l flack ii 9M m &

.Aug. 13, 1957 v. BUCK 2,802,282

CENTRIFUGAL LINT SEPARATOR FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES Filed June 28; 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent CENTRIFUGAL LINT SEPARATOR FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES Leo V. Buck, Eifingham, Ill., assignor to Borg-Warner Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application June 28, 1955, Serial No. 518,607

6 Claims. (Cl. 34-79) This invention relates to laundry machines and more particularly to lint separators adapted to be utilized in laundry machines having a forced air system.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved centrifugal lint separator adapted to be utilized in a laundry machine of the above general class.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a centrifugal lint separator mounted in an access door of a laundry machine.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a centrifugal lint separator for a laundry machine having a forced air system, said separator being adaptable for disposition in any suitable location within said forced air system.

A lint separator embodying certain features of the present invention may comprise a compartment having at leasttwo spaced side walls, a circular partition mounted on .the inner side of the first side wall and projecting towards the other wall so as to divide the interior of the compartment into a circular inner chamber and a lint trap, said first wall being formedwi-th a plurality of grouped apertures disposed in circularv array and .com-

municating with said inner chamber, a plurality of deflectors disposed in -circular array, each deflector overlaying a corresponding group. of apertures, an outlet opening formed in said second wall, and means for introducing lint-laden air into said apertures whereby said deflectors function to cause the lint-laden air .to follow a generally circular path within the inner chamber, said .air developing sufficient centrifugal force to. cause the lint tobe thrust radially beyond the baflie into the lint trap, thus separating the lint frornthe air.

Other objects and features of the. present invention will become more apparent when considered. in conjunction with the appended specification and drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a laundry machine with which the present invention may be associated;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of Fig. 1 taken along the plane of line 2-2 thereof and showing to advantage the arrangement of the forward wall of the clothes receiving receptacle with the lint separator mounted in the access door.

Fig. 3 is a partial view, enlarged, of the access door of the laundry machine of Fig. 1 with certain portions take away to show the details of the separator.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a portion ofFig. 3 as viewed in the plane of line 4-4 thereof;

-. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of. Fig. 3 as viewed in th separatorand the deflectors associated therewith; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the lower portion of the "laundry machine of the type shown in Fig. 1 illustrating ice to advantage another location in which the separator of the present invention may be disposed.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown in Fig. l a laundry machine of the type disclosed in a co-pending application S. N. 424,318, entitled Automatic Drying Apparatus, filed April 20, 1954, by Alexander L. Reiter. The machine disclosed in said co-pending application has been modified to the extent necessary to show the manner in which the lint separator of the present invention may be adapted to the access door thereof. It is anticipated that the separatordisclosed herein may be adapted to be utilized at any point the forced air system of any laundry machine as considerations of design, ethciency of performance, and economy of manufacture may guide those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains.

Since the general construction of the dryer shown in Fig. 1 has been disclosed and described in detail in said copending application only those portions thereof necessary to show the-manner of adapting the present inven- 'tion thereto will be described in'detail.

It is deemed suflicient to state that the dryer of Fig. '1 is composed of a casing A, a control panel B, and a hinged access door C, having a centrifugal lint separato D mounted therein.

The casing A houses a clothes receiving cylinder E (Fig. 2) mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis and having a circular opening F. A seal is maintained between the rotatable cylinder E and the casing A by means of a circular gasket G. correspondingly, the access door C is sealed against the casing A by the gasket H sothat air entering the cylinder from the rear thereof passes axially through the cylinder and is ultimately discharged through the lint separator D (Fig. 1) mounted in the access door C.

Having thus described the general environment within which the present invention may be utilized, a detailed description will now be undertaken.

Referring to Figures 3, 4 and 5, it is apparent that the separator D also serves as a panel access door and is composed of an inner circular panel or wall 11 having a circular flange 12 engageable with the gasket H. Cooperating with the panel 11 is an outer panel or wall 14 having a central discharge aperture 16 formed therein. Spanning-the aperture 16 is a strap 17 supporting a stud 18 engageablewith a spring clip 19 secured .to the inner panel 11. 1

The panels are held together by the frictional engagement 'of the stud 18 andthe clip 19 with the circular skirt 21 of the panel 11, reinforced by a return bend.22,

.snugly engagingthe outer panel.14 as at 23.

The inner panel 11 is formed with a plurality of pairs of apertures 24 disposed in circular array and communicating with the interior of the cylinder. A plurality of scoops or deflectors 26, one deflector for each pair of apertures, overlay the apertures in the manner shown in Fig. 5. It is to be noted that the deflectors 26 have an opening 27 so that air passing through the apertures 24 may discharge through the opening 27. It is to be further noted that the deflectors are disposed so that .all the openings 27 open to the left hand. Thus, it is apparent that a mass of air flowing through the cylinder E will leave the cylinder by entering the apertures 24 (as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4) and emerge from the openings 27 (as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3). In leaving the deflectors 26 the air will follow a generally circular path in a clockwise direction. Disposition of the deflectors 26 with the openings 27 to the right hand will of course develop a counterclockwise flow path.

Referring now to Fig. 4, it is apparent that the deflectors are formed integral with an annular baffle 28 having a frusto-conicalwall which divides the interior of the panelled door into an inner chamber or exhaust chamber 29 and a lint trap 31. The bafile 28 suitably mounted to the panel 11 may be formed independently of the deflecto rs 26 as considerations of design and economy may dictate. The frusto-conical wall of the bafiie projects towards the inner side er the panel 14 with the wall gradually increasing in size from its portion of smallest diameter, connected to the panel 11, to its base edge portion of largest diameter which is flared as at 32 to provide a smooth foil over which airmay readily flow into the lint trap 31 defined by the wall and the panels 11 and .14. n

The operation of the lint separator of the present invention will now be described. Assume that the clothes receiving cylinder E is filled with clothes to be dried. Operation of the dryer will tumble the clothes while air forced through the cylinder will discharge through the apertures 24, the deflectors 26 and ultimately leave the dryer through the discharge aperture 16. It is well known that during the course of a clothes drying operation, the

air forced through a dryer becomes laden with particles of cloth or lint. Thus, the air entering the apertures 24 carries with it lint particles which it is desirable to separate from the air before the air is discharged through the opening 16. Since the air emerging from the openings 27 moves in a circular path and in a clockwise direction by virtue of the disposition of the'defiectors 26 a centrifugal force is developed sutficient to cause the lint particles to move outwardly in a radial direction and over the flared bafiie 28 into the lint trap 31. The lint particles are retained within the lint trap by the battle 28 while the lint-free air is permitted to discharge from the separator through the discharge opening 16. It' is believed readily apparent that, due to the frusto-conical wall of the battle and'its gradually increasing diameter from its connection to the panel 11 to the flared edge 32 closely adjacent the panel 14, the bafiie is very efiective to provide a trap for the lint particles which confines and prevents the lint particles in the trap from escaping therefrom and being carried by the air flowing through the discharge opening 16 and expelled externally of the dryer during operation of the dryer, or from falling by gravity into the exhaust chamber 29 when the dryer is inoperative and being expelled from the dryer through the discharge opening 16when the dryer is again rendered operative.

It is to be. particularly noted that the capacity of the lint trap 31 is relatively large and embraces the annulus which is defined by the baffle 28 on the inner side and the wall portion 33 of the inner panel 11 on the outer side. The lint separator of the present invention will continue to function until the trap 31 has been substantially filled with lint. At that time, the operator may separate the panel 11 from the panel 14 by disengaging the spring clip 19 from the stud 18 and the ring of lint may thus be readily removed.

In Fig. 6, the separator D of the present invention is shown mounted below the cylinder E. It is, to be noted that the lint laden air passing through the clothes receiving cylinder is discharged from the cylinder E through the apertures 34 disposedin circular array around the forward wall 35 of the cylinder. The air follows a path indicated by the arrows to the centrifugal lint separator disposed on rails 36 which prior to the present invention were occupied by a wire screen.

The rails 36 are suitably fastened to the sides of the casing A. The separator is slidable upon the rails 36 and is therefore readily removable for cleaning through the access door 37. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 6, and as stated earlier, it is apparent'that' the path traversed by the lint laden air, indicated by the arrows, leads from the interior of the cylinder B through the apertures'34 to the exhaust opening 38. The flow path of the lint laden air is intercepted by the disposition of the centrifugal lint separator D across the flow path just described. The

outer periphery of the separator may take any suitable configuration consistent with the need for channeling the air through the separator making sure that the outer edges thereof are sealed against leakage. The prime purpose of the arrangement shown in Fig. 6 is to support the statement that the centrifugal lint separator of the present invention may be disposed in any convenient place within a laundry machine having a forced air system so long as the separator intercepts the air flow path with the panel 11 facing upstream. It is to be particularly noted that the lint laden air may be directed toward the separator normal to the panel 11 of the separator as well as at any desired acute angle.

While I have illustrated preferred embodiments of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth but wish to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: r

1. In a laundry machine, a housing, a clothes receiving receptacle rotatable about a horizontal axis mounted within said housing, said receptacle having an opening at one end thereof; an access door mounted upon said housing, opposite said opening, said door having an inner panel and an outer panel, a plurality of air scoops mounted upon the inner panel and communicating with the interior of the door and the receptacle, a bafile mounted upon said inner panel encircling said scoops and projecting towards said outer panel, said outer panel having an exhaust opening, means for channeling lint laden air into the interior of said door through said inner panel, said scoops being effective to cause the lint laden air to follow a circular path within the door and developing sufiicient centrifugal force to cast lint particles beyond said bafiie in a radial direction whereby air passing through said exhaust opening is free of lint.

2. In a laundry machine having a forced air system, a lint separator disposed in said air system and comprising: a compartment having at least two spaced walls, the first wall being formed with a plurality of inlet openings, the other wall having a central discharge opening; a circular baffle having a frusto-conical wall with the smallest diametrical portion thereof being mounted on the inner side of the first wall and encircling the inlet openings; said frusto-conical wall projecting towards and having its largest diametrical portion terminating in an edge adjacent said other wall, said bafile dividing the interior of the compartment into an exhaust chamber and a lint trap; and deflector means mounted on said first wall effective to cause lint laden air forced into said compartment through said inlet openings to traverse a circular path while within the compartment, the centrifugal force developed by said air in traversing said circular path being effective to cast the lint between and beyond the said edge of said bafile in a radial direction whereby thc lint is deposited in the trap.

3. In a laundry machine having a clothes receiving receptacle and an access door thereto, a lint separator mounted in said access door and comprising: a compartment having at least two spaced walls, a first one of said walls being formed with a plurality of scoop shaped air inlets, said inlets being disposed in circular array and each opening to the same hand, the other wall being formed with a centraldischarge aperture; a circular bafile disposed between said spaced walls and supported by the first wall, said baffle encircling the air inlets and dividing the interior of the compartment into an exhaust chamber and a lint trap; and means for forcing lint laden air through the clothes receptacle and against the compartment whereby air is forced into the interior of the compartment through said air inlets and ultimately discharged to the atmosphere through the discharge aperture, said air scoops being effective to cause the air to follow a generally spiral path while within the interior of the compartment and thus developing sufiicient centrifugal force to cause the lint to be thrust radially beyond the baflle into the lint trap.

4. A lint separator for a laundry machine comprising: a compartment having at least two opposed walls; a plurality of air scoops each having an open end and a closed end formed on one of said walls, said scoops being disposed in circular array with the open end of each scoop facing the closed end of the adjacent scoop, a central aperture formed in the second wall and disposed radially inward with respect to said scoops; and a circular partition of frusto-conical shape mounted on the inner side of the first wall encircling said scoops and projecting towards the second wall so as to divide the interior of the panel into a circular inner chamber and a lint trap, said partition having its smallest diametrical portion connected to said first panel and having its largest diametrical portion terminating in an edge adjacent said second panel, said lint separator being effective to intercept a stream of lint laden air channeled to the scoops along a line or path whereby the air enters the interior of the compartment through the scoops and traverses a generally circular path therein, the centrifugal force developed as a result of the circular motion being sufficient to thrust the lint between the second panel and said edge of said partition and radially beyond the partition into the lint trap thus separating the lint from the air.

5. A lint separator for a laundry machine comprising a paneled compartment, having at least two parallel panels, one panel being formed with a plurality of groups of air inlet openings, said inlet openings being arranged in a circle and each group of openings being enclosed by a deflector, said deflectors being mounted on the inner side of the panel and each opening to the same hand, said groups of inlet openings and scoops cooperating to intercept a current of lint laden air following a generally linear path and approaching the compartment from the outer side, said current of air being converted to a cir- VII cular path upon entering the interior of the compartment through said openings and said scoops; a circular bafile of frusto-conical shape and having its portion of smallest diameter mounted on the inner side of the first panel encircling the scoops, said bafile projecting toward and having its portion of largest diameter terminating in an edge adjacent the second panel so as to define a lint trap and an exhaust chamber; and means for forcing lint laden air into said paneled compartment whereby the lint is centrifugally separated from the air while said air traverses a circular path.

6. In a laundry machine having a forced air system, a lint separator disposed in said air system and comprising: a compartment having at least two spaced generally vertical walls, the first wall being formed with a plurality of inlet openings, the other wall having a central discharge opening; a bafile mounted on the inner side of the first, wall surrounding the inlet openings and projecting towards said other wall, said bafile being of frusto-conical shape gradually increasing in diameter from a portion thereof mounted on said first wall to an edge thereof adjacent said other wall and dividing the interior of the compartment into an exhaust chamber and a lint trap; means mounted on said first wall effective to cause lint laden air entering said compartment through said inlet openings to traverse an annular path while within the compartment, the centrifugal force developed by said air in traversing said path being effective to cast the lint beyond the bathe in a radial direction whereby the lint is deposited in the trap.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,641,746 Donaldson Sept. 6, 1927 1,912,657 Quam June 6, 1933 2,111,725 Petersen Mar. 22, 1938 2,540,725 Geldhof Feb. 6, 1951 

